Possibilities for Own Source Revenue and Local Service Delivery in Cambodia

The Capstone team worked with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the Kingdom of Cambodia’s Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), and the Cambodian Development Resource Institute (CDRI), a local nongovernmental organization, in the identification of own source revenue potential for the local level of government in Cambodia. The team conducted extensive field research during a three-week mission to Cambodia in January 2004. This research included careful examination of the existing revenue structure as well as the development and piloting of a field survey instrument and methodology for assessing possibilities for own source revenue generation. Through analysis of the research, the team further refined the field survey instrument and methodology and identified areas for future research. Using this methodology, CDRI has continued field work in the area of own source revenue. Results from this research will be used by MEF to determine the next steps in the course of piloting an own source revenue scheme in late 2004. Drawing on their work in Cambodia, the Capstone team also explored and proposed opportunities for assessing possibilities for devolving, or in some instances, beginning service delivery at the local level. The strategies for own source revenue generation and local service delivery will be used by UNCDF in the Decentralization Support Program that it is launching in Cambodia.